So with Rafa out of the picture, would Hughes really be a “good fit” for Stoke City?

I have my doubts. Yes he is hugely respected in the game after his glittering career with Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Chelsea to name but a few.

But after failing to led Manchester City to any silverware during his time in charge and millions spent, Hughes’ managerial career has taken a downward spiral.

He had one brief season at Fulham — remember that? — in 2010-11 when they finished eighth and qualified for a Europa League spot through the Fair Play route. However he left just 11 months into the job, stating “as a young, ambitious manager I wish to move on to further my experiences.”

So no disrespect to Stoke City, are the Potters a step up from the Cottagers?

Hughes then took over at Queens Park Rangers in 2012, keeping them in the Premier League on the final day of the season. But a woeful start to the 2012-13 campaign saw Hughes sacked and he’s been out of a job since. Seemingly he is waiting for the right offer to come along.

He is still a promising manager, and a delightful person on a one-to-one basis. But when he has to be, he can be stubborn, ruthless and extremely difficult to work with. But aren’t all good managers like that?

Hughes brought the Welsh national team to the brink of qualification for the 2004 European Championships in Portugal and then worked wonders at Blackburn Rovers in his first job in club football. They finished in the top six on a small budget and reached the last 32 of the UEFA Cup and multiple FA Cup semifinals.

However big-name signings at Manchester City let him down, badly. And Hughes’ figure on the sideline at the Etihad Stadium was often a forlorn one towards the end.

His name is Alessandro Cupini, a 10-year-old from Kansas City, Missouri that is about to complete a dream that a soccer player of any age would be thrilled to achieve.

Less than two weeks ago, Cupini and his family announced that the Kansas City Fusion midfielder/striker would be accepting a spot in the AS Roma academy starting in the Spring 2018, after having trained with the club for the better part of two years off and on.

Pro Soccer Talk had the opportunity to speak with Cupini’s father, Eddie, ahead of his son’s big move to Italy.

“This is something that Alessandro has worked really hard for,” Eddie Cupini told PST. “There are times where I tell him that he needs to take a step back and be a normal kid, but he doesn’t have any of that. He’s an incredibly hard-working and driven kid that does more than most people regardless of his age.”

Alessandro — who recently turned 10 years old — isn’t the typically American youngster though, according to his father.

“There are times where I wish Alessandro would take a break and be a kid, but that’s just not in his desire,” Cupini said. “We built him a mini stadium downstairs where he trains basically every day after school. As soon as he gets home from school he’s doing work down there and always looking for other kids to come over to practice with.”

That’s where the comparisons to Pulisic can be worked into the conversation.

Pulisic followed a very similar path to the professional level when he left his hometown of Hershey, Pennsylvania at the age of 16 to sign with Borussia Dortmund. Now, he’s U.S. Soccer’s most promising star as the USMNT looks to rebuild.

Cupini is already on the radar of U.S. Soccer and the Olympic Development Program (ODP), which helps identify young talent in the United States starting at the Under-12 level.

However, because of Cupini’s Italian heritage and his unique opportunity to move to Italy next year, Alessandro could potentially have the chance to represent either the USMNT or the Azzurri in the future.

“It’s a long ways away and we’re taking things slow in that regard,” Cupini said in regards to his son’s international plans. “We’d certainly be willing to explore our options, but I think it would be a real dream and his main goal to play for Italy.”

New Jersey-native and former Italy international Giuseppe Rossi made a similar career choice when it came down to choosing a national team. Despite living in the United States for much of his youth years, Rossi appeared for a number of Italy’s youth teams before holding a stint with the senior side from 2008 to 2014.

Prior to making the announcement that Roma would be where Cupini will ply his trade next year, the young American also had the opportunity to train with Italian academies Empoli and Atalanta.

“My father is from Rome, so for Alessandro to have the opportunity to play for his hometown club it was almost a no-brainer,” Cupini said. “We were very grateful to the other clubs for the chance Alessandro had to train with them, but Roma is a club that is very close to our family.

Leicester City pulled out a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion at the King Power Stadium, however, the Foxes remain in the bottom three of the Premier League.

Riyad Mahrez had plenty of chances on the day, and he rescued his side with 10 minutes remaining after powering home a strike into the far corner. The goal marks the Algerian’s first of the 2017/18 campaign.

Despite a frustrating opening hour, the visitors led on 63 minutes when Nacer Chadli curled home a brilliant free kick that left Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel stunned.

For the Belgium international, Chadli becomes West Brom’s seventh different goalscorer of the season.

Leicester nearly came out flying in the second stanza whenMahrez had an open chance in the center of the Baggies penalty area, however, the Algerian winger’s left-footed attempt was too high to hit the target.